Back to School: Tips and Tricks to Beat Procrastination

Summer is finally drawing to a close, the nights are getting longer and worst of all – spiders are back with a vengeance. That can mean only one thing – it’s September and we’re going back to school! Hopefully you’ve had long, relaxing summer and are now ready to jump back in to being productive in whatever capacity that may be – school, work or university. However, if you’re more like me, and struggle to get back into the groove of the next academic year, read on for my tips and tricks to beat procrastination.

Procrastination comes for several different reasons – and no, it’s not just being lazy! The main issue I find causes my lack of productivity is a concern over not understanding the material and being afraid to start something I may get wrong. Instead of waiting for a miracle, I've learnt it's better to fight that feeling head-on and attempt a draft of whatever I'm doing. It's easier to rewrite something with a bit of help from a teacher or a lecturer than it is to make yourself understand a topic by staring at a blank screen.

Another main cause of lack of productivity can be a disinterest in the material. In this case, I have discovered that ploughing through something I find boring will result in failing to retain information and often a bad mark. So, I set myself incentives to break up dull and difficult material. I find working towards a goal, such as going out with friends at a set time, or a designated lunch break, allows me to hone my focus as there is an end in sight.

Sometimes procrastination stems from wider reasoning, but equally, sometimes we are just lazy! And while it's good to take breaks and enjoy downtime, other times you just have to suck it up and do the work. My top tip for cracking on when you're feeling lethargic is to sit down and challenge yourself to do five minutes; chances are, by the time you've done that, you can do five more minutes and then you'll be over the hump and into your working day. As well as this, I find it especially useful to separate my work space and my relaxation space. Having a designated room or area of your room to work can help you chill when you need to but also get down to your work. Note that within this work space - whatever that may be - it is important to ensure you're hydrated, warm and well-fed, instead of reaching for sugary snacks, try a glass of water, a warm jumper and filling meal such as pasta!

I hope these tips and tricks have given you a few ideas to beat your own lack of productivity, and remember, balance is key. The phrase 'work hard, play hard' may be overused but it's definitely true! Give yourself enough of a chance to relax so that when you're in work mode you can give it your all. Here's to going back to school 2021!